Revision of Rangomaramidae fam. nov. from New Zealand and implications for the phylogeny of the Sciaroidea (Diptera: Bibionomorpha) from Wed, 2010-02-24 19:07

Rangomaramidae, a new family of Diptera-Bibionomorpha, is described from New Zealand, containing a single new genus, Rangomarama, with five new species: R. edwardsi, humboldti, leopoldinae, matilei, and tonnoiri. Adult morphology of Rangomaramidae ('long-winged fungus gnats') is described and information given on their distribution and biology. Rangomaramidae is hypothesized to be the sister group to the Cecidomyiidae. The origin and evolution of Rangomaramidae are discussed in the context of previous hypotheses on the phylogenetic relationships within the Sciaroidea. Present data suggest that the few modern species of Rangomaramidae described here represent a relict of a lineage of sciaroid Diptera that evolved in Gondwana during the Jurassic period.